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We were the international Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault (JCASA); and were dedicated to ending sexual violence in Jewish communities globally. We did our best to operate as the make a wish foundation for Jewish survivors of sex crimes. In the past we offered a clearinghouse of information, resources, support and advocacy.

Monday, April 07, 2003

Elizabeth Loftus: UCI Professor Faces Pending Lawsuit

Elizabeth Loftus: UCI Professor Faces Pending Lawsuit

By Jamie Claridad

University of California (Irvine) - April 7, 2003

News Section of the New University

UCI's
Distinguished Professor in Social Ecology Elizabeth Loftus,
widely known for her studies in false memory research, is
currently facing an impending lawsuit filed against her by
Nicole Taus in Solano County, Calif.

No stranger to
controversy, Loftus has come to the defense of some of the
nation's most high-profile individuals, among them Ted Bundy,
the Menendez Brothers and Michael Jackson.

Although
Taus could not be reached for comment, a plaintiff report
filed at the superior court of California in Solano County
accused Loftus and several other parties of invasion of
privacy, defamation, libel per se, negligent and intentional
infliction of emotional distress and damages.

Taus,
who is now currently serving as a Lieutenant in the United
States Navy Air Corp, was caught between a custody case battle
between her parents in 1979 that was later won by her father.

It was this custody battle which later attracted David
Corwin M.D. to publish an article in 1997 in the scientific
journal "Child Maltreatment," dealing with Taus' memories on
childhood abuse.

Taus was not named, nor identified in
the article, except as "Jane Doe."

The article drew
interest. The journal then printed reviews including both
praise and criticism that was published in the same journal.

It was this journal article that allegedly prompted
further research on Taus conducted by Loftus and Melvin Guyer,
a psychology professor at the University of Michigan Medical
School.

However, the research that was conducted and
later published allegedly disclosed private information that
revealed Taus' identity and as a result, have subjected her
and her family to further emotional distress from past events.

According to Corwin's case history study, Taus was six
when she was videotaped recounting her mother�s abuse, which
later led to her mother loosing full custody and contact with
her daughter.

Corwin then contacted Taus 11 years
later to seek her permission to use the tapes.

Taus
claimed initially that while viewing the tapes, she had no
recognition of the said events but later said that she did
remember. Because of this incident, Loftus attempted to find
more proof regarding the said abuse beyond Jane Doe's
experience.

During this research, Loftus had compiled
much evidence that led her to doubt Jane Doe's story of abuse.

This research later led to the current complaint filed
against her and her leaving the University of Washington.

Lynn Crook, a journalist who has been investigating
Loftus and her alleged misbehavior, questions Loftus' research
methods. Crook, who also was subject to a custody trial
between her parents, said that Loftus had testified on her
behalf and had helped her win her case. However, she said that
there was still a number of misrepresentations and errors in
her testimony.

"Her work has created enemies," Crook
said. She said that although Loftus' testimony had helped her
case in the past, Loftus had failed to accurately present her
facts and testimonies.

"Her testimony actually helped
my case, however her testimonies were inaccurate and
misrepresented. She had ignored corroborative evidence and out
of the 95 words that described the case 12 were errors," Crook
said.

Crook also said Loftus' actions on the Jane Doe
case drew outcries from university officials prompting her to
resign from the University of Washington and the American
Psychological Association.

Loftus however said that
Crook's behavior is harassment and irrational.

Loftus
also said that Crook has been harassing her for the past
several years and has even gone to such extreme measures such
as to registering herself under a false name in one of Loftus'
classes to monitor her.

The plaintiff report also
states that, "defendants Loftus and Guyer did not plan or
conduct their research of plaintiff with due regard for her
safety and well being, and there were no procedures in place
for the defendants Loftus and Guyer or plaintiff to monitor
the project and report problems."

Moreover, the report
also alleges that, "Loftus and Guyer deliberately
mischaracterized the information and records they were
obtaining and reviewing."

However, Loftus claims that
she has never met Taus and that she has always represented her
as "Jane Doe" in the publication.

I've never used her
name. I wrote an expose regarding false memory entitled "Who
Abused Jane Doe," Loftus said.

She also emphasized
that the current lawsuit is an attempt to prevent her from
practicing her first amendment rights.

"These
allegations are a meritless attempt to chill my first
amendment rights as they tried to do so in the University of
Washington," Loftus said.

Loftus also adds that UCI is
supporting her amidst this controversy. "UCI is defending me
and so is my whole department," Loftus said. However, she
stated that, "I do not want to comment on the pending
lawsuit."

Also named in the currently impending
lawsuit include Melvin Guyer who co-authored the article with
Loftus, Carol Tavris, collaborator of Guyer and Loftus,
University of Washington for allowing the research and
investigation made by Loftus on the Taus case,

Shapiro
Investigation who allegedly aided Loftus in her research,
Skeptical Inquirer for publishing information on the research
and The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims
of the Paranormal for distribution and supporting and hosting
speaking engagements by Loftus.

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The Awareness Center believes ALL survivors of sex crimes should be given yellow ribbons to wear proudly.

Survivors of sexual violence (as adults and/or as a child) are just as deserving of a yellow ribbon as the men and women of our armed forces, who have been held captive as hostages or prisoners of war.

Survivors of sexual violence have been forced to learn how to survive, being held captive not by foreigners, but mostly by their own family members, teachers, camp counselors, coaches babysitters, rabbis, cantors or other trusted authority figures.

For these reasons ALL survivors of sexual violence should be seen as heroes!